I’m one of those that are against distant relationships; they are tough and bring pain along with loads of doubts.
“Doubts” is what Going The Distance didn’t really cover. The movie stars Justin Long and Drew Barrymore as two people that met in a bar, in New York and decided to spend the rest 6 weeks together, knowing Barrymore had to go back to Stanford.
At first both were like, “yeah what the hell,” we won’t see each other again; it’s an “easy” relationship. But as the weeks pass and the departure date comes near, they fall in love and decide to continue their relation as a distant one.
Up until here everything did resemble reality and you didn’t feel like you were watching a movie but as if someone was telling you his/her story. I believe they kind of exaggerated with the drinking; if there was alcohol they were drunk, which is cool but if they drink this much, they should be able to remain sober, no?
The second part of the movie, the one where they try to have this distant relation is what didn’t convince me much. First the characters have spent only six weeks together, which basically mean they don’t really know each other that well. After all the missing and the missing sex, what comes next is doubts, especially after Long met Barrymore’s co-worker, who is hot. Despite both friends and family hinting of the doubt, they don’t seem interested; they are only interested in sex that even attempt in phone sex resulting in a big failure.
Now, I understand sex is a good part in a relation but they kind of seemed as if they chaste before they met, that just one night made them crave for more. I don’t know Barrymore, but Long’s character just broke up with his girlfriend, which means he was really missing sex.
Ok, leaving the sex and doubts behind, there was one thing I liked; the job issue. I’m glad Barrymore didn’t give up her job for him, though technically she did, but at the end work won. And I’m also glad Long didn’t leave his job for her. It would have been too of a happy ending story far away from reality. Very far. Barrymore dreams of becoming a journalist, that’s what she likes doing. And she tried to get a job in New York to stay next to him, but it just didn’t happen. In movies they have economic crisis too. Same goes for Long that didn’t find one in Stanford. This is what reality is.
I really liked Barrymore’s character Erin. She is funny and s
exy. She is 31 doing her masters and went to New York for an internship hoping for a job. She probably resembles many other writers and aspiring journalist try to make it in the printed media, when it is staring to die. She isn’t described as a young woman entering the world of media. No, she is simple and normal.
Long’s character Garrett seems much younger than her, especially in his ways. I check both actors’ bio and Barrymore is just three years older. Maybe because he looks much younger and he lately didn’t projects playing younger characters, like Accepted 
in 2006 and Live Free or Die Hard in 2007 and Take Chances in 2009.
The best character though, I believe is Corinne, Barrymore sister, played by Christina Applegate. She is hilarious, funny and above the lines. She isn’t the annoying sister giving you advices and what to do or not do. She just gives advices and let you live.
Overall the movie was ok; they could have gone deeper into the distant relationship issues and not just hinting some of the basic problems. In case you are wondering if they end up together or if you are having a distant relation and want to know how Hollywood forecasts your future, give the movie a try at least some of the jokes are funny.
Popcorns and a Soda 